WeHo Meningitis Case Not Tied To NY, Elsewhere

Brett Shaad died several days after contracting meningitis. (credit: Facebook)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County health officials said the bacterial meningitis that killed a 33-year-old West Hollywood attorney this month isn’t the same form of the illness that has killed several people in New York.

County health officials said Monday that they read the genetic fingerprints of the illness that was reported April 9 and it isn’t “highly related” to other cases in New York City or Southern California.

The death of Brett Shaad caused outcry from local officials, who feared an outbreak may be afoot in the gay community.

In New York City, a strain of the illness circulated among gay men and infected 22 people, resulting in seven fatalities, since 2010.